About Panditarama

Panditarama Shwe Taung Gon Sasana Yeiktha

The Panditarama Shwe Taung Gon Sasana Yeiktha is a center for the practice and study of the Theravada Buddhist teachings. Established in October 1990 by the Venerable Guiding Teacher U Panditabhivamsa, it follows the great lineage of the late Venerable Mahasi Sayadaw. He no longer gives personal interviews during retreats, but still offers Dhamma talks, and closely supervises other Sayadaws who interview.

Both local and foreign yogis come to the Shwe Taung Gon center in Yangon to practice intensive Vipassana (Satipatthana) meditation. The Mahasi method involves mindfulness of body, sensations, mind, and general objects such as seeing, hearing, tasting and smelling. The primary objects of meditation are the rise and fall of the abdomen in sitting meditation and the movement of the feet in walking meditation.

Food, accommodations, and basic needs are met through the generous donations of well-wishers. The teachers and staff work to maintain conditions conducive to meditation. All these efforts are made with the intention that the yogis be free to practice and gain the benefits. For the yogis, there is but one responsibility, that is, to maintain continuity of mindfulness throughout the waking hours.

Meditation Instruction

The method of meditation taught here is that taught by the late, most Venerable Mahasi Sayadaw. Instruction is given in English, or in Burmese with English translation.